One of the things I hear frequently when I’m reading something by a cessationist is that people in the Charismatic circle defend their beliefs based on their experiences, rather than Scripture. Then they whip out of their pocket the popular phrase “interpret your experiences in light of Scripture, not Scripture in light of experiences.” This phrase actually comes from one of the basic rules of Hermeneutics (the theory of interpretation). I have a problem with this theory (when used against the Charismatic movement) for three good reasons:
- It is a word named after the Greek god “Hermes”.
- It limits God, and puts Him in a box. For example, is a person who has never read the Bible not allowed to have an experience with God?
- It’s as foolish as saying, “I just had a glass of ice tea, but I have to make sure there was tea in it.”
What happened to relying on the Spirit of Truth? Instead, humans have done what they always do, and they have taken matters into their own hands. “We’re going to do it like this” they say, rather then doing it God’s way. If someone can point out how this practice is supported Scripturally, I will gladly change my views on it, but until then I’m trusting in the fact that the Holy Spirit is fully capable of interpreting what He wrote in the first place.
If my cat is sneezing, and she won’t eat her food, I can search online for these symptoms and probably come to the conclusion that she has an upper-respiratory infection. That is the natural order of operations with the majority of life’s situations. Something happens, and you search for answers.
Sometimes, I’ll ask God a question and He’ll lead me to a specific Scripture. Am I to presume that my interpretation of this Scripture is false if it ends up relating to my question, or is God truly answering me?
These are things you’ll have to decide for yourself, but my decision is to allow God to be God. Keep in mind that the Bible was meant to be understood by anyone who wants to understand it. Nothing has been hidden, and there are no secret meanings. That doesn’t mean that it can’t be misunderstood or refused to be understood by people who can’t accept it’s meaning, but for someone who is truly seeking God, it is unlikely that the Lord would lead them into deception!
Thanks for your comments on my blog Justin. It’s good to meet you and I like your blog!
I think you might find this book interesting. It’s written by a good friend of mine and tackles this very issue of Holy Spirit revelation by experience as well as intellect.
http://shop.newdayinternational.org/customer/product.php?productid=836&cat=&page=
http://www.amazon.com/Journey-Change-Supernatural-Power-Truth/dp/8889127333/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=gateway&qid=1200480657&sr=8-1
“A Journey of Change: the supernatural power of truth”
by Tony Howson
“Experiencing the Spirit of Truth opens your life to incredible fullness in God. Allowing the Spirit of Truth to guide your life and influence your decisions will lead you into an exciting new realm of joy and purpose. Through this welcome book readers will learn the difference between truth and Holy Spirit Truth and how this can make a massive change to ones life journey.”
Comment Submitted: January 16th, 2008 at 5:54 am
Dear Justin,
You have a wonderful site, and one of the best catchy designs I’ve seen.
I believe it is vital we take every experience we have to the Word of God- simply because it’s our safety, not a part of limiting God.
In Charismatic circles, I have been disturbed by many experiences and manifestations that are out of line with the Word. For example, I heard a woman bark and in some Charismatic circles due to lack of judgment they have moved on to call this “experience” holy bark.
Another thing that I am strongly against is the “holy laughter” as practiced in some churches. I do not speak against the manifestation as I do not know if God would move on a person to laugh like that, which seems alright to me. But what disturbs me is the uncontrollable bursts of laughter even while the message is given.
This is one area where I do not let experiences shape the Word. Another area is where experiences go contrary to the Word.
Especially in the area of forgiveness and healing. Many people judge God’s Word by their experiences. They see a person sick and not healed or die of cancer and they come to believe God doesn’t heal everyone. If God doesn’t heal everyone there is no basis for faith, as you can’t be sure if God will heal or not. Faith is assurance of things hoped for . And its the prayer of faith that raises the sick. Those who have faith shall lay hands on the sick and see them recovered.
These are areas where I choose to believe Gods Word over experiences.
=)
Sidharth
TWJ Ministries
Comment Submitted: January 17th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Mark: Thanks, I’ve already looked at it:)
Sidharth: Thanks for the compliment! I agree with what you are saying. I have seen videos of the barking and other animal sounds, but I do not stand in the position to call out whether or not these events are an act of God. From what I saw it appeared to be very chaotic and very distracting, and it was difficult to watch.
Comment Submitted: January 18th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
Hi Sid,
I’ve not come across barking so can’t comment.
But concerning laughter, I have been deeply moved emotionally by God’s presence on occasion to cry or to laugh.
The most profound occasion was a day when I mourned for the lost. It would be untrue to say I was not in control of myself. But a profound sense of loss, sadness and grief came with the presence of God early in the morning and continued well into the evening. The only response I could manage was to sit and to weep really deep, body-wrenching tears of sadness, to repent of a lifestyle that didn’t reflect the commission, and to pray for those who don’t yet know Him.
On other occasions I have been so filled with joy by Him that the only reasonable response seemed to be to laugh out loud or to run around the room feeling like I’d burst with happiness. I also remember a time when he showed me how a situation I was unhealthily close to looked from his perspective. I cried with laughter and remembered the Psalm which says “He who sits in the heavens laughs”. (I also remember David becoming undignified as he danced with joy before the ark.)
Is it Biblical? I think there is plenty of Biblical precedent for God stirring our emotions, taking us to the depths of sadness to stir compassion and to the heights of joy to stir hope. This is perhaps most evident in the Psalms, but is not confined to just those passages.
I’d certainly share your concerns about the authenticity of certain “manifestations” and I have seen some stuff that was clearly false. But I’d also share Justin’s wisdom about not judging without first having a clear witness in my own spirit, rather than simply distaste or discomfort. What should concern us is that if something is of God but we devalue it then we cut ourselves off from one of the ways that God wants to communicate with us.
I hope that’s helpful. Mark.
Comment Submitted: January 22nd, 2008 at 4:23 am
Mark,
I have actually witnessed the laughing in my church. It happened after the music, and everything was silent. One person let out a giggle, and then everyone burst out laughing, including myself. I can’t describe it, but it was a brief moment of pure joy. As quick as it started, it ended, and everything was in order. The main thing was that it was not chaotic. It was very controlled, and at the same time uncontrolled…again, hard to describe.
I like to let God be God, and I’ve learned that He can do whatever He wants. The more bizarre it seems to our natural minds, the more He just might do it!
That’s pretty interesting about the crying. I’m always moved emotionally, but one time something really neat happened. My friend was concerned about not having money for a certain bill, and she kept going on and on about it. She was saying things like, “well, I don’t know what I’m supposed to do God” and, “I can’t live like this”. Well, we walked to the mailbox as she was still fretting and she opened one letter and a sudden look of panic came on her face. In my spirit, I instantly knew what was happening. She said, “it’s a check for $200 from a doctor that overcharged me.” I immediately burst into tears, and I was laughing uncontrollably at the same time. My spirit was witnessing to the supernatural provision that God had just brought to her, and it was amazing. I think we praised Him for like four hours after that!
He’s awesome!
Comment Submitted: January 22nd, 2008 at 8:08 am
I know EXACTLY what you mean Justin
Comment Submitted: January 22nd, 2008 at 10:21 am
Can God tell us something that isn’t written in the Bible? What if He tells you to NOT go on a missions trip? Even though that seems to go against the Great Commission, He might have certain plans for you where you are instead of where you want to go. Or God might tell you to never watch TV again, or something like that.
But of course, I would be very cautious if someone claims to have a new revelation of truth that no one has ever heard before. All doctrine has to be based on the Word of God.
Comment Submitted: February 1st, 2008 at 1:49 am
Dear Mark,
I hadn’t seen your reply.
If you did notice, I did not speak against holy laughter. And I don’t mind being undignified before the Lord.
But I am against anything that will disrupt the order in the church, whether it be speaking in tongues [I speak a lot in tongues] or whether it be any other manifestation.
I mentioned this particular manifestation because
(1) I see no instance in the Word where God made people laugh uncontrollably
(2) This manifestation has become the central theme of many churches, where the pastor and the hearers all fall down and laugh uncontrollably.
No manifestation -not even being slain in the Spirit- should take the place of the Lord. Man is susceptible to doing things to get attention, and some people go forward to be ministered to through laying on of hands just to fall down. God forbid. All manifestations must point to Him.
Sidharth
Comment Submitted: February 8th, 2008 at 6:00 am